Electric treatment appliance



Aug. 17, 19418. F. LANDAUER ELECTRIC TREATMENT APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Shae}; 1

Filed Jan. 19, 1944 F60 MIND/705?. fihflv/ Aug. 17, 1948. LANDAUER 2,447,127

I ELECTRIC TIREA'I'MEK'J. APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 19, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 2 S a z 'A 1 5 A I19 E! Aug. 7, 1948. F. LANDAUER ELECTRIC TREATMENT APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 19, 1944 INVENTOR Is H Patented Aug. 17, 1948 ELECTRIC TREATMENT APPLIANCE Fred Landauer, Rockville Centre, N. Y.

Application January 19, 1944, Serial No. 518,797

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric treatment appliances and more particularly to a portable electro-therapeutic device including one or more electrodes.

It is one of the main objects of this invention to provide a compact and handy device of the aforesaid nature which is light in weight, simple in construction and efficient and easy in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a treatment device of the aforesaid type which permits speedy operation and electric current regulation with the fingers of one hand only of the operator or person manipulating said device who may safely hold the same for application to a part of the human body for treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide guarding means on said device for preventing any undesirable effects which may be otherwise caused by the electric current on a person applying the device.

It is a further object of the present invention to interchangeably connect one or more head pieces or applicators, each containing an electrode, with the housing of the device, which housing may form a handle electrode.

A further object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic device the operative parts of which are so conveniently arranged and located with respect to its handle housing that the device can be easily maneuvered whether it is operated by an operator (physician or nurse) for treatment of a patient or by the patient himself.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for transforming the electro-therapeutic device, either for self -application and selfservice by the patient or for applying the device to the patient by an operator without the latter being included in the electric circuit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide pad means for attachment to the applicator or applicators of the device and to provide further means for preventing escape of liquid from said pad with which the same may be imbued for the operation of the device.

Yet, a further object of this invention is the provision of means to yieldably secure one or more electrodes to the handle forming housing of the device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawings which illustrate certain forms of embodiments thereof. 7 These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of Which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric treatment appliance or device made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head piece or applicator to be applied to the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the applicator shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side-elevational view of the applicator of Fig. 2 in somewhat modified form.

Fig. 5 is partly a longitudinal, sectional view' of an electric treatment device in a simplified form.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view of a switch for use in connection with the device shown in Fig. 1 or 5.

Fig. '7 is a similar view of the switch of Fig. 6 showing the switch in another position.

Figs. 8 and 9 are top and side-elevational views, respectively, of an adjustable holder for a plurality of applicators.

Fig. 10 shows one form of a pad-holding structure for use in connection with an applicator.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line lll| of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically the application of the device to the hands of a person operating the device.

Figs. 13, 16 and 17 show various wiring diagrams for use in connection with the device of Fig. 1 or 5.

Figs. 14 and 15 show two difierent positions of a polarity switch shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 13.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an electric treatment appliance 25 made in accordance with this invention. This appliance is adapted for use in the treatment of parts of the human body, such as the eye, or eyes, nose, ears, hands, legs, etc.

The device consists mainly of the housing 26 forming a handle which may be made of electric current conducting metal, rear portion 21 of insulating material containing a rheostat (or potentiometer) of known construction 21a and a polarity changer 28 to which a cable 29a with plug 29 is connected. The forward part 33 of handle 26 carries a mill-ampere meter 33, interrupter switch 3| and an operating wheel 32 for regulating potentiometer 21a contained in rear portion 21 (Fig. 12).

Adjacent the end of forward part 33 made of insulating material there is removably connected, as by means of a setscrew 34, a head piece or applicator 35, hereinafter described in greater detail. From Fig. 13 .of the wiring diagram, the device, including potentiometer 21a contained in rear portion 21, polarity switch 28, meter 30, and interrupter switch 3|, is well apparent, but will be referred to further below.

Wheel 32 is rotatably positioned in bearing 32a and is operatively connected by means of gearing 32b-32c-32d with a shaft 32c which upon rotation of wheel 32 causes movement of contact arm 21b relative to the winding of potentiometer 21a in rear part 21.

Applicator 35 is cup-shaped and consists of the hollow shield or front portion 45' and the telescopic rear portion 4| about to be described hereafter.

Connected to a pin 42 which passes through opening 43 of rear portion 4| is a disk 44 which abuts against the rear wall of hollow shield 4!). Disk 44 may be provided with a plurality of openings or perforations 45 for a purpose later described. Cup-shaped head piece 35 has the tubular extension 46 in which is housed a spring 41 which abuts against a tubular portion 48 telescopically engaging the inner wall of tubular extension 46. Tubular portion 48 is fixed to pin 42 by means of a nut 50. Pin 42 terminates in a pin plug 49 adapted for connection with the appliance 25 at its forward end 33, as is apparent from Figs. 1 and 12.

Spring 41 which is housed in rear portion 4| tends to hold disk 45 in abutting relation with rear wall 40a of hollow housing or shield 40, as can be easily realized from Fig. 2.

Since tubular portion 48 telescopically engages tubular extension 46, a relative movement of disk 44 with respect to the hollow shield 40 may be I achieved whereby disk 44 may be pushed into its extended position 44a, (indicated in dot-dash line).

It is well understood that pin plug 49, pin 42 and disk 44 are of electric current conducting material, whereas shield or housing 40 and the rear portion 4| consisting of tubular extension 46 and tubular portion 48 are made from electrically insulating material.

As can be easily realized from Figs. 2 and 3,

disk 44 forming an electrode within head piece or applicator 35 may be readily moved within the latter by the hand of a person without coming in contact with the electric current conducting v parts and 42.

Fig. 4 shows the cup-shaped head piece of Fig. 2 in somewhat modified form. Head piece 35a carries the nut 50a in a manner similar to that described in Fig. 2. The pin 42 (not shown) terminates in a spring plug 49a which fits into an electric current conductive sleeve or socket (not shown) which is provided at the forward end portion 33 of the appliance 25. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear wall 40b of cup-shaped head piece 35a is provided with a plurality of perforations for a purpose later described.

Fig. 5 shows the electric treatment appliance of Fig. l in a more simplified form, the same being indicated by numeral 60. The appliance 60 consists of tubular metallic handle portion 6| in) I which project insulated end pieces 62, 63. End piece 63 is secured in place by a metallic rod 64 which threadedly engages at 65 with a metallic sleeve or looking member 56. Member 62 has a shoulder portion 68 against which the tube member 6| rests, thus forming a smooth handle surface at the end of the device.

The end piece 63 is provided with a guarding means in the form of flange member 69. Flange member 69 and shank 12 have separable, interfitting formations; such as perforations 10 and a pin connected to said shank or electrical connecting means 12 leading to electrode housing or head piece 351). Shank 12 terminates at right angles in slotted pin plug 49b which is secured in position by insertion of slotted pin 4% within the hollow of locking piece 66.

The electric current is supplied by means of a cable 15 which carries the electric current to handle 5| by means of a wire connection 16 and contact piece 11, the latter being connected to the inner surface of metallic tube 6|.

The other wire 18 of cable 15 connects to metallic rod 54 as at 19. The end piece 62 terminates in a sleeve which will prevent any accidental contact of the wire 18 with the metallic tube 6| ii the connection 19 should come loose for some reason.

Surrounding current conducting rod 54 is an insulating tube 8| which engages sleeves 66 and 51, respectively. The purpose of this insulating tube 8| is to prevent any accidental contact between the metallic rod 64 and the handle sleeve 5| which would cause a short circuit and heating of the handle member 6|. As can be readily seen from Fig. 5, locking member or sleeve 61 threadedly engages the adjacent end of tube 8|, the latter having the bridge member 89 for holding in position conductor rod 64.

In some instances these electro-therapeutic devices may be employed with a plurality of applicators 35. To this end, a clamping member 82 may be suitably clamped to the current conducting sleeve 6| in any conventional manner. It is well understood that head piece or applicator 35 may be removably connected to clamp member 82 by means of a plug and socket arrangement, as indicated at 83.

As illustrated in the head piece 35b of Fig. 5, a pad made from cotton, sponge rubber or other suitable, liquid-absorbing material 85 may be accommodated within the hollow housing 40. Attached to pad 85 is a wire or string 86 the free ends of which pass through the openings 81 of the housing 4|].

The loose ends 88 of the wire 86 project beyond said openings 81 and are bent over, thus locking the pad 85 in'place. This wire connection ensures pad 85 to be moved together with disk '54 against the action of the spring housed in the rear portion 4|. The wire 86 preferably passes through the center portion of the pad 85. Rear wall 40a of rear portion 4| is provided with one or more openings 5| (Fig. 4) for the purpose of ensuring complete soaking and imbuement of pad 85 when the forward part of the pad is dipped into a wetting agent.

Perforations 45 of disk 44 and apertures 5| of head piece 351) permit the air to circulate and to pass through pad 85.

As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the pad 85 may be secured in place within housing 4|] of the head piece by means of a spring ring clamp 99 (instead of wire 86 as aforesaid) terminating in handles 9|, 92, respectively, and provided in a suitable groove 93 within the hollow of housing 40 of the applicator. Pressing towards each other of the ends 9I, 92 in accordance with the arrows indicated in Fig. will expand the clamp, thus relaeuasing a pad placed in the hollow of the housing It will be observed that when a pad is placed Within the hollow 40 and soaked with liquid and pressed against a portion of a body under treatment, some of the liquid will ooze out under the pressure, thus exerted. To prevent the loss of such liquid a channel 94 may be provided which will act as a storage space for such excess liquid and then, when the pressure against the pad is released, capillary suction within the pad will again cause absorption of the excess liquid stored within the said channel 94.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a holder device I90 terminating in a plug pin IDI which is connected with a bifurcated forward part I92 swingably connected to plug pin IilI as at I63. Bifurcated forward portion I52 is provided with two rods I04 and I05 which carry clamp posts I56 and I91, respectively. These clamp posts are adjustable on connecting rods I94 and I55 as by means of set screws I08. The angular relationship of the rods I04 and I05 is determined and secured by means of a set screw I99 threadedly engaging pin I09a.

Head pieces 35 are connected, one to each of the clamp posts I56 and I91 in a manner as described with respect to the attachment 83 of Fig. 5.

It may be desirable to supply the current to the device shown in Fig. 5 in continuous flow or intermittently. To accomplish this, a switch, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, may be incorporated in the device. Such switch has been built in the electric treatment appliance 25 of Fig. 1 and is indicated there by numeral 3i.

As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 in greater detail, the switch 3 Ia may be connected to a metallic handle 6Ia of an appliance either by means of a non-metallic sleeve H5 having at its end a closure piece II6 through which passes the cable II I with two wires H8 and H9, or switch 3| (Fig. 1) may be insulated from and set in handle housing 26, the operating knob of said switch 3| projecting therewithout. According to Fig. 6, the wire II8 passes through the sleeve II5 while the wire H9 is connected to switch contact member I2I as at I20, whereas the other end of the wire H9 is connected to the switch contact member I22 at I23.

Sleeve H5 is provided with a slot I25 through which protrudes the electrically insulated knob I25 having a shoulder I26 bearing against the inside of the slot !24. Secured to the knob I25 is a sliding contact I21 having a contact button I28 for a :purpose later described. The free ends I29, I39, respectively, of the contact members I2I and I22 are fixedly held in a bridge portion I3I forming an integral part of insulating tubular member I I5. The sliding switch member I21 forms at one of its ends a permanent sliding contact I210; bearing against the contact member I22 while the other end I211) for-ms a contact portion for contact with the surface l2 Ia of the contact member I2I, when a steady current supply is desired, as shown in Fig. '7.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the contact point I2?!) is not engaged with the surface I2 Ia. The switch member I21 is held in position disengaged from contact member I2I by means of a flat spring shoe I32 riding on the projection I33 of the bridge member I 3I By pushing knob I 25 inwardly in the slot I24 shown in Fig. 6, engagement will be caused between the button I28 and the contact member I2 I. Releasing the pressure against knob I 25 will cause the spring I32 to force the slide member I27 to be forced outwardly to normal position again, thus breaking the contact between I28 and I2I. Repeating such pressure and release of knob I25 will cause an intermittent current supply, as can be well understood.

From the foregoing it is well apparent that switch 3| may be similarly operated but must be electrically insulated within the appliance of Fig. 1 or Fig. 5, or switch arrangement 3Ia may be employed as a supplemental attachment to the appliance of Fig. 5.

It can thus be seen, that according to this invention there has been provided an electro-therapeutio device of the portable type which has a housing including a handle, the latter forming an electrode and which housing may removably carry one or more additional electrodes projecting and insulated from the electrode handle, so that when said additional electrode is to be applied for treatment to a body part, the handle electrode when grasped by the hand of the person under treatment, will complete an electric circuit passing through the person's body. The electric current may be controlled by regulating means operated at will by the person holding the handle to correspond with the physical conditions of the person under treatment.

It will be realized that different polarities are provided at electrode forming handle 26 and additional electrode 44 contained in the applicator (Figs. 5, 12, 13 and 17), the electric circuit from wires A and B of cable 29a being closable by the person manipulating the device 25 and applying the same, for example, to his hands I55 and I5I (Fig. 12).

Operation The electric device according to this invention may be applied for treatment in various ways.

(a) According to wiring diagram of Fig. 16 the body of a person may be in contact with a suitable electrode E which is connected to power line B. The device according to this invention contains only a single electrode 54 which is housed in an applicator, the latter being attached to a handle housing carrying interrupter switch 3|, rheostat 21a and meter 30.

Electrode 44 of the device may be applied by an operator grasping the handle, to a patients body, to complete the circuit therethrough.

(b) Fig. 12 illustrates diagrammatically how the electric circuit may be completed from one hand I59 to another hand I5I and through the persons body, said circuit including operating device 25, Fig. 13 indicating the wiring diagram therefor.

Electric current is conducted from any suitable current supply source (not shown) by means of wire A through contact shoes IIIII of polarity switch 28 (which may be switched, for example, to position 28a of Fig. 14) conductors 152, I53, interrupter switch 3I to handle 28, from which electric current flows through hand I50 and body of a person to hand I5I to complete the circuit through electrode 44, conductor I54, fuse I62, conductor I55, contact shoes IVI of polarity switch 28, conductors I56, I57, meter 59,

conductor I58, contact arm 21b, potentiometer I50 to wire B; When polarity switch 28 is changed to the posi--;

winding 21a, conductors I59,

7. tion of 28?: of Fig. 15, the direction of electric current flow will be changed to traverse first electrode 44 and hand ll in contact with the latter and then to handle 26 and hand I59.

While Fig. 13 shows schematically a wiring diagram as disposed with respect to the operative parts of the device'of Figs. 1 and 12, Fig. 17 indicates a wiring diagram of similar character, but somewhat changed for the inclusion of an additional applicator electrode in the device illustrated in Fig. 1. According to this wiring diagram, an auxiliary or additional applicator 35 with electrode in a manner (according to Fig. 5) is being applied to the human body, while an applicator with electrode 44 having a polarity different from that of handle electrode 25 and electrode contained in applicator 35 is placed in the circuit to complete the same through the human body at a different location of the latter. In this instance, an operator, other than the person receiving treatment, may manipulate handle electrode 26 without being included in the circuit.

(c) In the event that an operator has to apply a simple device of the type of Fig. 5 to a patient, the operator may grasp the electric current conducting handle 6| thereof without being included in the electric circuit. To this end, an additional applicator 35 may be connected to the electric current conducting handle 6|. The electric circuit is then completed between the electrodes of applicators 35b and 35 and through the body to which these applicator electrodes are applied, It is, of course, understood that the patient himself may also operate such device for self-service. The hand of the operator or physician will then not be affected by the electric current and will not be included in said electric circuit.

It is well understood that wires A and B (Figs. 1, 5, 12, 15 to 17) may be connected to a switchboard, suoh as shown in Fig. 1a of U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,290,688, dated July 21, 1942, in order to operate the electric treatment appliances made in accordance with this invention.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the above embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions or changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric treatment appliance comprising a metallic handle adapted to conduct electric current, an applicator housing of electrically insulating material carried by said handle, an electrode, said applicator housing having a recess, said electrode being normally shielded within said recess of said applicator housing, spring means operatively connected to said electrode within said applicator housing and permitting displacement of said electrode within said recess under action of said spring means, respective means for conducting electric current to said metallic handle and. to said electrode, and switch means carried by said handle and connected to said electric current conducting means, said switch means being adapted to cause continuous cur rent flow in one position and intermittent current flow in another position, whereby upon contact of said metallic handle by a person and upon abutment of said applicator housing against a body part of said person said electric current conducting means may direct through said switch means electric current to flow,respectively, continuously or intermittently between said electrode and said person in contact with said handle.

2. An electric treatment appliance comprising a hollow handle forming one electrode, an applicator supported by said handle and having an electrically insulated cup, another electrode seated in said cup and shielded by the latter, respective means passing through said handle for conducting electric current to both said electrodes, a further applicator including a further electrode, means connecting said further applicator with said handle electrode, and means electrically connecting in series said further electrode with said handle electrode, said further applicator being cup-shaped and shielding within said cup said further electrode.

3. An electro-therapeutic device comprising a housing including a handle, a first electrode forming the surface of said handle to be grasped by the hand of a person, a second electrode arranged for detachable connection with said housing and for application to a body part to be treated, electric current conductor means connected to said electrodes, respectively, switch means associated with and actuatable from the surface of said handle, said switch means being adapted to allow continuous current flow in one position and intermittent current flow to said electrodes in another position, and a shield arranged for position on said handle and for removal therefrom, said second electrode being disposed for movement within said shield.

4. An electric treatment appliance comprising an elongated handle forming a first electrode, a socket forming one end of said handle, a cupshaped housing made of electrically insulating material, a second electrode positioned within and shielded by said cup-shaped housing, respective electric conductor means connected with said handle and with said socket, an electric extension insertable in said socket for connection with one of said electric conductor means, said cup-shaped housing being swingably connected to said extension and being axially movable with respect to said second electrode, whereby said second electrode may be brought in contact with a body part against which said cup-shaped housing is applied.

5. An electric treatment appliance comprising an elongated handle forming a first electrode, a socket forming one end of said handle, a cupshaped shield, a second electrode positioned within said shield, electrical connecting means insertable in said socket and extending therefrom to said second electrode, guarding means of electrically insulating material positioned between said handle and said electrical connecting means and preventing contact between said first electrode and said electrical connecting means, said shield being spring-supported and relatively movable with respect to said second electrode and said electrical connecting means, an electric cir cuit including electrical conductors extending through said handle and, respectively, connected to said first electrode and said socket, and switch means connected to one of said conductors and adapted in one position to intermittently break and close and in another position to continuously close said electrical circuit.

6. An electric treatment appliance comprising an elongated metallic handle forming an electrode, a socket including electrically insulating guarding means positioned at one end of said handle, respective electrical conductors extending through said handle and connected to said handle electrode and to said socket, and switch means extending from within said handle therewithout and connected to one of said conductors, said switch means being provided with two operative positions, whereby in one of said positions electric current may be supplied from an electric current source to said handle electrode and said socket intermittently and in another position of said switch means continuously.

7. An applicator for an electro-therapeutic device comprising a housing of electrically insulating material having an open end, an electrode accommodated in said housing, a coil spring, pin-shaped means carrying said spring and suporting said electrode, said pin-shaped means having an eX- tension forming a terminal, whereby said housing may be moved lengthwise of said pin-shaped means against the action of said spring with respect to said electrode so that the latter comes to lie for position at said open housing end and for contact with a body part to be treated.

8. An electric treatment appliance comprising an elongated handle forming an electrode, a socket forming one end of said handle, guarding means of electrically insulating material forming part of said socket and positioned at said one end of said handle, electrical conductors extending through said handle and terminating at said first electrode and in said socket, respectively, whereby said guarding means prevents contact between said first electrode and said electrical conductor in said socket, and switch means connected to one of said conductors and provided with two operative positions for respectively supplying electric current intermittently and continuously to said handle electrode and to said socket.

9. An electric treatment appliance comprising an elongated handle forming a first electrode, a socket forming one end of said handle, an open ended housing made of electrically insulating material, a second electrode positioned within said housing, respective electric conductor means connected with said handle and with said socket, an electric extension insertable in said socket for connection with one of said electric conductor means, said extension being connected to said second electrode in said housing, and means carried by said extension arranged to permit axial movement of said housing with respect to said second electrode, whereby said second electrode may be brought in contact with a body part against which said open ended housing is applied.

FRED LANDAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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